May 21, 2013

On LeBron and Scoring Titles

March 26, 2010 by 17 Comments

“If I really wanted to win a scoring title, I could do it every year — every single year — but it doesn’t matter.” LeBron

Yesterday, Bob Finnan wrote about LeBron’s duel with Kevin Durant for the scoring title. The two are separated by the slightest of margins- 9 points. Think about that. After 70 games and those two are only 9 points away from each other. They get more than that in a quarter most nights. It really is anyone’s to win. Many would probably give the edge to Durant because his team will be fighting for playoff position right down to the final game. The Cavaliers on the other hand could have things wrapped up with a couple games to go and allow LeBron to play fewer minutes or sit completely.

In proper context, LeBron was saying that the scoring title is a distant second to the team’s success. As it should be. But it does bring up an interesting question- could he really win it every year?

Make no mistake- LeBron was dead serious when he said it. I saw the video clip of the interview, and he was emphatically saying that the title could be his if he wanted it. Is that too bold a claim for a guy that’s only won one scoring title in his career?

James won the award in ’07-’08 when he averaged 30.0 points per contest. Last year, his MVP year, he finished behind Dwayne Wade. The two seasons before his title, James finished behind Kobe Bryant. The point against is that there are a lot of scorers in this league. It would be rather bold to say that any one of them could sweep the award year after year.

I do believe that any one of those guys (LeBron James included) could win the scoring title every year if they wanted to. They would win it because they would be playing with a different goal in mind. See LeBron, Wade, Kobe, Durant- they all want to win. It’s not good enough to them to just outscore their opponent. So if a player switched his priority from winning/scoring to scoring/winning they would be playing by a whole other set of rules, and probably would be successful from an individual perspective.

LeBron is capable of taking the scoring title this year hands down. If you think about it, LeBron isn’t even looking to score much in the first quarter. He keeps deferring to his teammates. They run plays for Hickson and Jamison in that first period to try and get them going. It allows LeBron to find out how the defense is going to play him and pick his spots. Again, the goal though is for the team to be successful, not just LeBron.

So do I think LeBron could win the scoring title every year- sure he could. Especially if that was his priority.

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  • MattyFos

    I think LBJ could do anything on the basketball court if he set his mind to it…
    I do notice his stat-line after the first quarter he’s usually got like 8 pts 5 reb and 4 ast.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Andrew

    I’m actually surprised this quote is getting traction. Is there any doubt whatsoever that LeBron could win it every year if he wanted to? All he has to do is stop distributing the ball, take his assists down to around 4-5 per game level and use those discarded assists for FGA and he would win easily. It’s remarkable that LeBron finishes in the top 5 in scoring every year with the way he sets up teammates and gets everyone involved.

  • DK

    i think if LBJ had Kobe’s ball-hogging tendencies and hoisted up 35 shots a game like Kobe does from time to time, he would easily win the scoring title every year…for being a superstar, Kobe has always bothered me (though moreso in the past than as much now) with his tendency to ballhog…I can understand it late in the game, but he seems to do it thru most of the game…LBJ tends to get his team involved and give them opportunities…or maybe its just because i cant stand Kobe…and that was before the hotel fun in Colorado…

  • ben

    I absolutely think he could. I think that anyone being honest with themselves would say the same. I, however, am waiting for the inevitable “lebron hate” backlash that seems to follow anything he does that displays the slightest amount of arrogance or confidence.

    We’re witnessing the most (or at least penultimate) dominant player in the history of the game. If he wants to do it, he could.

  • phil m

    LeBron was also right in saying that scoring titles don’t matter. If Durant took it this year, it’d be a nice little story; and it wouldn’t make anyone but a fool believe that Durant is the more valuable player to his team.

    As DK was saying, it’s not only about the so-called title, it’s about how a player scores. For the same reasons as DK stated, LeBron is infinitely a better player than Kobe. Let the Kobe fans have their, “well, that’s the guy I want in the final 10 seconds.” Great, how many games are decided entirely within the final ten seconds? And who gets to trade for a player with only ten seconds remaining on the clock? Nice argument.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Denny

    If he totally gave up on the defensive end, played in a faster-paced system, and strictly wanted to win the scoring title, I think he could average 40 a night. Then again, I think Durantula could do the same thing. And Melo.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    I love how some are trying to turn him saying he’s more concerned about winning and team success into something negative and cocky

  • ben

    @Scott: Links? No one on this site, so far.

  • DK

    @Denny – agreed. there are a few that could feasibly score 40 a night, but it would end up being playground basketball, and not really that fun to watch…I for one, get more juiced by watching good defense and such than the track meets that PHX uses…just seems too boring to me…

  • http://www.zfcomics.com dgriff13

    Could Lebron win the scoring title every year? Yes.
    Isn’t it just a TAD cocky to say that anyway? Yes.
    His point is that his goal is winning, and that’s what matters, right? Yes.
    Will there be backlash anyway? Yes.
    Is it annoying when people answer their own questions? Yes.

    sorry ;0)

  • http://bitmatt.com bitmatt

    Is there really any doubt that LBJ could score 35-40 a night if he wanted to? I mean, I know we here watch him more than anyone & are very aware of what he is capable, but I find it hard to believe this is controversial at all even with folks who don’t watch every minute of every Cavs game. I guess because it comes off as arrogant, but c’mon- it isn’t bragging if it’s the truth.

    Those other guys mentioned in the post, Durant, Melo, etc.- those guys are scorers. They are great at that. But they are not so great in the other categories that LeBron excels in. So, they dedicate themselves almost entirely to putting points on the board, while LeBron has broader responsibilities. Yet LeBron still leads the league in scoring. If he patterned his game more like Carmello’s, I have no doubt he would average 38+ a game, but the Cavs would at best be a 50-55 win team, not the juggernaut they are now.

    LBJ has said several times that the triple double is by far the most important individual per game accomplishment to him. He’d much rather lead the league in that category than scoring.

  • http://www.waitingfornextyear.com Scott

    @ben: It was more on Twitter last night – definitely not here.

  • Matt#2

    Lebron could win the scoring title every year of a shortened career. He is less of a scorer than Melo because Lebron gets so many points from the line, which means he’s taking a lot more punishment for the scoring he’s getting.

  • http://www.msblsim.com boogeyman

    Lets trade him for a Browns championship!

    @7 It shouldn’t be surprising that’s what “fans” do. LeBron James is the best player in the NBA period, not even close. He was an MVP last season and a year later he’s even better. A championship in year seven (like MJ) would only underline it.

  • Josh

    Quotes like this make me smile and be thankful that guy is on our team. He could absolutely win the scoring title every year if he wanted….but he doesn’t because he focuses on WINS and making his teammates better, and that’s what makes him so special.

  • mgbode

    don’t play defense, play GS/NY pace and style basketball and rack up huge average numbers while becoming a much less efficient player.

    yes, he is capable. he’s also smart enough to know that it is horrible basketball.

  • mgbode

    don’t play defense, play GS/NY pace and style basketball and rack up huge average numbers while becoming a much less efficient player.

    yes, he is capable. he’s also smart enough to know that it is horrible basketball.